Get What You Pay For, Medically? Not Always
How many times have you researched doctors and hospitals when you have an illness? I hate to admit it, but I've made the same mistake a lot of people have. If the doctor, or surgeon, or procedure, costs more, the thinking is, she must be better. Wrong. According to The Washington Post's Jordan Rau, data collected recently for New York, Boston, Los Angeles and Washington "shows that an expensive charge for a joint replacement is no guarantee that the hospital is safer than one that lists a cheaper charge." When you're diagnosed with cancer or heart disease or another life-threatening ailment, price may not always be at the top of your list of things to worry about. But if you decide to consult a top-rated specialist, chances are, it's going to cost more. But is the care truly better? In fact, Rau reports, the Boston and Washington rates "show that the most-expensive high-quality hospital will replace a knee for less than the most-expensive hosp...